So does Chase Headley: “I see a lot of confidence in guys who had success last year. You can see it in the way guys are going about their business.”

Said reliever Luke Gregerson: “It’s a good group of guys who know where they fit and what will be their roles. Guys understand. That’s part of developing as a player and as a team. And we’ve started to play well as a team.”

The veteran of this group is Mark Kotsay, who wasn’t a Padre in 2010. But he sees this team in a positive light.

“The way we finished last season, if we didn’t believe we could win it would be shocking and disappointing. The way we finished, I think anything is possible.”

Perhaps all that’s missing is Heath Bell saying: “We’re going to the World Series.”

“I was standing right here when he first said that,” said Venable. “Bell’s locker was two spots away. I remember hearing it and thinking, ‘where did that come from?’ But those guys got us thinking and then believing.